Module 0 · Stage 3

The Inquiry Autoresponder and the 72-Hour Hold

The reply that goes out in minutes, and the sequence that holds a date while you are on stage. Every bracket comes from your Facts Sheet.

The five rules

1. Reply in minutes, even when the reply is "not yet." The first message does not need to be the full answer. It needs to exist.
2. Give a number now. A booker who gets "from $X" in the first message stays in the conversation. One who gets "let's hop on a call" books whoever gave them a number.
3. Ask exactly three things. Date and venue or city. Which parts of the day. Rough guest count. Everything else waits.
4. Hold the date for 72 hours, and say so. The hold is the reason to reply to you and not the other three musicians. It is also the reason they decide this week.
5. One next step per message. Never two.

Message 0: the instant reply

Goes out within minutes of any inquiry, from your inbox rules, your Instagram saved replies, or later automation. Same words everywhere.

Email subject: Re: [their subject], and your date

Thanks for reaching out about [date, if they gave one]. I am on stage or with a client right now and will reply properly by [time or "this evening"]. Three quick things so I can hold the date for you: 1. The date, and the venue or city. 2. Which parts of the day: ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, or all of it. 3. Rough guest count. My packages start at [$X] for [package] and go to [$Y] for the full day. The pricing sheet is here: [link]. Once we have talked, I hold your date for 72 hours so nobody else can take it while you decide. [Name] [Act], [City] [Phone] · [Booking link]

Instagram or text version (under 500 characters)

Thanks for the message! I am on a gig and will reply properly by [time]. So I can hold the date: 1) date + venue or city, 2) ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, or all of it, 3) rough guest count. Packages start at [$X]; sheet here [link]. I hold dates 72 hours once we have talked.

Message 1: the real reply, same day

Sent by you, by hand, once you have the three answers. This is where you are a person.

[Name], thanks for the details. For a [date] [event] at [venue] with [guests] guests, the fit is [package]: [one line of what it covers], from [$X]. Two options from here: - Book a fifteen-minute call and I will walk you through the day: [booking link] - Or hold the date now with the retainer and we sort the songs later: [deposit link] Either way, [date] is held for you until [day and time, 72 hours out]. If it is not the right fit, no hard feelings, just tell me and I will release it.

Message 2: 24 hours in, no reply

Still holding [date] for you until [day and time]. One question I would need answered to lock it: [the one thing missing, usually the venue or the parts of the day]. Reply here and I will confirm the rest.

Message 3: 48 hours in

Your hold on [date] ends tomorrow at [time]. Here is the link to lock it with the retainer: [deposit link]. If you need more time, say so and I will see what I can do.

Message 4: 72 hours, release

I have released the hold on [date] so I can be straight with other couples asking about it. If it is still open when you are ready, I will do my best to make it work. Wishing you a great planning season either way.

Message 5: the booking confirmation

Booked. [Date] is yours. Here is what happens next: - Two weeks before the day we lock the song list and the timeline. I will send a short form. - I coordinate directly with your planner and DJ; send me their names when you have them. - The balance is due [N] days before. I will send a reminder. Questions any time. Congratulations.

Message 6: the seven-day reactivation

For the ones who went quiet. One message, then stop.

Did you find your musician for [date]? If not, I still have it open and the offer stands. If you did, congratulations, and I hope the day is everything you want it to be.

Installing it without any software

• ▪Gmail: Settings, Templates on. Save Message 0 as a template. Create a filter for messages containing "wedding," "book," "available," or your contact-form subject line, and set it to send the template. Save Messages 1 to 6 as templates and send them by hand from your phone.
• ▪Instagram: Settings, Business tools, Saved replies. Save the short version of Message 0 with a shortcut like "hold." Type the shortcut, it fills.
• ▪The hold itself: a calendar event named "HOLD [couple] [date]" with a reminder at 24, 48, and 72 hours. The reminders are your cue to send Messages 2 to 4.
• ▪The deposit link: a payment link with the date in the memo, so the retainer and the hold match.

The measurement

Two numbers, kept on one line in your notes: minutes from inquiry to Message 0, and the share of holds that convert to retainers. The first should be under ten. The second is the number the whole system exists to raise.